Placement Year-EEE

[Blubell46]

Hi, does anyone know how easy it is to go a job in EEE after graduating? I am just wondering if there is a demand? My ds worked hard in his first year and managed to get a placement this coming Summer for a year but now is thinking twice about it?

He feels he is going to miss his Uni friends . He has flourish by living away from home and has been lucky in making some lovely friends. I think he feels he is going to miss them and then when he returns he won’t know anyone…I think it has surprised him as how much he has enjoyed it. We are so pleased for him but I just want him to be happy….currently in the middle of exams so all I have said is do what makes you happy .

As a parent I really want him to take the placement since it is such an amazing opportunity for his career but at the same time I don’t want him to be lonely and find it hard when he goes back….i think he has found his tribe of people…studying together and having the same outlook.

Anyone been in a similar position ?

Thank you

When I was at uni (over 3 decades ago, admittedly) I knew several people who spent the second year abroad. They picked up their old friendships in the third year, and made new ones from the first- and second-years.

Unless your son's friendships are all exclusively carried out via his course - in which case, isn't anyone else doing a placement? - I don't think it should be a problem.

And whatever the job prospects are they will only be enhanced by having a year's relevant experience. (Or a year's less relevant experience if he decides to do something else after all )

Thank you…I believe there were only a couple of students who managed to get a placement this year on his course.

None of his course mates have got one …I think he feels he is going to miss them , working in the library or projects together. Since they will have all have finished their degree when he returns for his final
year ( if exams go okay this summer ).

His flat mates do different courses to him and he loves spending time with them too but they will be finished too. A couple are doing summer internships and rest are enjoying second year - since they know they will need to get a job in their final year.

I think he was just surprised how much he has enjoyed his second year and going back after a year ‘s placement will be hard and lonely.

you mean electrical&electronics engineering?

My dd is an electronics engineer (her degree was general engineering but that was her specialism).
None of her peers did a placement year, they all had to do summer internships as a course requirement. She did them in all 3 summer vacations of the MEng and was offered her job as a result of one - so in her case getting a job was pretty easy! I don’t think any of her peers had problems getting jobs either. I don’t know how much it varies depending on which uni and part of the country. (Also… not sure from what you said if your DS is doing an integrated masters…that may make a difference)

I see a lot of undergrads all fired up to take a year out from their degree to do a year abroad and/or an employment placement.
Then -- they get comfortable in their year group and pull out, saying that they don't want to be a year behind their friends.

Frankly, I think they're very misguided. A year in an employment placement and/or abroad (either studying or working) as part of their degree programme gives amazing skills and experiences, and an edge in the graduate employment market.

My years of seeing undergrads going abroad or on a year's work experience, as part of their degrees, makes me think staying "because of friends" is short-sighted. The personal & professional growth, acquisition of skills, and general knowledge, preparedness and maturity in year in an employment placement and/or abroad is really really valuable, both for their personal development & their employment prospects.

And undergrads don't socialise exclusively with those in their year or class. There is plenty to do that is across different undergrad years within most DEpartments, and certainly this is the case in extra-curricular activities.